Protocol lapse behind Pinarayi Vijayan missing flight, action likely

Kerala House Additional Resident Commissioner Aswathy Sreenivas confirmed disciplinary action against protocol officials after Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan missed a Delhi-Kerala flight. A preliminary inquiry found officials failed to properly follow up with the airline regarding his travel arrangements

New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala House Additional Resident Commissioner Aswathy Sreenivas on Sunday said disciplinary action would be taken against protocol officials after Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan missed his flight from New Delhi to Kerala due to a lapse in protocol.

Vijayan missed the flight to Karipur on Saturday after protocol officials allegedly failed to update the airline about his travel plan, even though he had reached the airport hours before departure and was waiting in the VIP lounge.

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After missing the 2.50 pm flight to Karipur, Vijayan travelled to Kannur on a night flight. Following the incident, the Kerala government ordered an inquiry. Speaking to reporters, Sreenivas said a meeting was held on Sunday during which explanations were sought from all those concerned.

“The preliminary inquiry has found that there was a lapse on the part of the protocol officials. Necessary disciplinary action will be taken immediately,” she said.

According to Sreenivas, the protocol team had sent an email to the airline informing it about Vijayan’s travel, but failed to ensure that an acknowledgement was received.

“The communication should have been followed up. That is where the lapse occurred,” she said. Sreenivas said the matter had also been taken up with the airline and would be escalated to its corporate office on Monday. The protocol team at Kerala House in New Delhi coordinates the travel and other official engagements of Kerala ministers and the Leader of the Opposition during their visits to the national capital.